Establishing a safe, stable household is the first step to creating a better life for yourself and your family. Whether you need family law legal support, resource referrals, or on-going social work support, we’re here to work with you on an individual, case-by-case basis to provide you with the support you need in setting a strong foundation for success.
Becoming your best self includes caring for your body, mind, and heart. With health coaching, support groups, mental health workshops, and more, we’re here to help you build healthy habits that promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Effectively managing your finances is the gateway to a better life, greater freedom, and the ability to explore your passions. With money management skills and future planning, you can control of your finances rather than having them control you. Get the support you need to feel confident and secure in your financial future with our financial literacy resources.
Take the next step towards achieving your full potential. With scholarships, training opportunities, small business start-up programs, and more, we’re here to help you develop the skills you need to secure your dream career.
Make your dream job a reality. With access to career training opportunities, professional development resources, employment coaching, and more, Fresh Start is here to help you advance your career goals and unlock your full potential.
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A pillar in the Phoenix community for over 30 years, Fresh Start transforms women’s lives by providing access and resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency.
Fresh Start provides skill workshops, resources, educational opportunities, and a support network of peers and mentors for each woman who is ready to take the first step toward her new life.
Volunteers inspire the entire Fresh Start team with their commitment and dedication to improving the lives of Arizona’s women. We are always looking for passionate, engaged community members who want to donate their time, skills, and talents to help our clients grow.
At Fresh Start, we train our volunteers to believe in our clients and their dreams, to treat everyone with respect, and to model professional relationships. Your compassion and commitment will transform women’s lives as they become self-sufficient and move from surviving to thriving.
Volunteer requirements
Empathy and compassion for all women
Be at least 18-years-old
Submit a volunteer application
Attend a 60-minute long volunteer orientation
Provide two references and a signed handbook
Certain volunteer opportunities will require additional training and background checks
* Please note that we require a 6-month waiting period to be eligible to volunteer after taking part in any of our programs.
Learn about the life-changing impact we have for Arizona’s women.
We believe a woman is the best architect of her own future. Our Impact Program uses a science-based approach that offers personalized, one-on-one support and access to resources for women who are ready to launch their path to self-sufficiency.
We believe a woman is the best architect of her own future. Our Impact Program uses a science-based approach that offers personalized, one-on-one support and access to resources for women who are ready to launch their path to self-sufficiency.
The Bridge to Self-Sufficiency takes a comprehensive approach to improving women’s lives, as a person is far more likely to achieve economic independence if they look across all areas of life, rather than tackling one area alone.
The five key pillars offer a framework that set a strong foundation for women to transition out of the cycle of poverty and achieve actionable goals and sustain behavorial changes that will positively change the trajectory of their lives.
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Success Story Card
For Rachel, Fresh Start was exactly what it sounds like: it was her fresh start. From escaping an abusive relationship to making her dream of starting a small business a reality, Rachel’s story is one of resilience and dedicated effort.
Rachel
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The Need
Crisis needs of women & children
Women who come to Fresh Start are domestic violence survivors, single mothers, unemployed or underemployed and have a household income at the poverty level. Learn more about how Fresh Start is breaking generational cycles of poverty.
Our programs help women develop a personalized pathway to economic self-sufficiency and personal empowerment. Learn more about our brain science-backed, evidence informed approach
Our long-term impact is visible in the lives of women that have broken out of poverty and established stable, fulfilling financial and career outcomes.
Women who come to Fresh Start are domestic violence survivors, single mothers, unemployed or underemployed and have a household income at the poverty level. Learn more about how Fresh Start is breaking generational cycles of poverty.
Our programs help women develop a personalized pathway to economic self-sufficiency and personal empowerment. Learn more about our brain science-backed, evidence informed approach
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Applying for Scholarships with the Arizona Community Foundation
We will review proven strategies to applying for scholarships, share tips for great scholarship essays and dispel common scholarship myths. Invest in your future!
This service provides resources that tend to your immediate needs through 1-on-1 sessions that are 15-20 minutes long. You will be contacted to the preferred method you submit when you register. Resource Coaching can also help you create a path within Fresh Start and provide the support that you may need in getting started.
Here’s your chance to start networking! Let’s come together, meet, build connections and discuss the different topics we learned about in the past months.
A month-long program focused on building a cohort of women seeking to become leaders in their lives. We focus on finding purpose, identifying strengths, boundaries, holistic well-being, networking, and much more. You are registering for the kickoff Saturday that will take place in person at Fresh Start. Weekly virtual webinars will take place the following 4 Wednesdays and a close-out session will be held in person at Fresh Start on the following Saturday.
Looking for a tune up on your resume? During this interactive workshop, an experienced professional will review participant resumes in real time, offering suggestions on how to improve its appearance and effectiveness. Keep in mind, your resume will be reviewed on screen, but this is a no-judgement zone. Just helpful tips and some great discussion thrown in. To participate, register & send your resume to [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance.
This entry-level workshop introduces you to the Windows Operating System. You’ll learn about the different components of the desktop, how to open, resize, move and close individual windows. You’ll also be introduced to the File Explorer where we create folders, move and copy folders to a thumb drive, and delete, restore, and then permanently delete files and folders
This series introduces you to the word processing application offered as part of Google’s suite of productivity tools. Pre-requisite: Microsoft Windows Level 1. Get started learning the basics!
Esta clase de nivel inicial presenta las habilidades básicas para usar el programa de Microsoft Windows tales como: el uso del ambiente del escritorio o “Desktop” y el “mouse”, abrir, cambiar de tamaño y cerrar las “ventanas” de los programas de Microsoft Windows. Asimismo, poder crear, copiar, mover, eliminar y recuperar archivos y carpetas de archivos. Usted recibirá una carpeta en donde podrá guardar sus archivos y hojas de papel, un dispositivo de almacenamiento USB (Flash Drive) para guardar sus archivos electrónicos y un Certificado al final del curso.
Financial Cents, Saving Success with Take Charge America
Participants learn smart spending strategies, how to save on the big budget spending categories, how to spend smart and still have fun, and when it’s smart to pay more. Participants will also learn the principles of saving, various types of savings needed, methods for increasing available money to save and techniques for developing the saving habit.
Building credit is an active, ongoing process that takes careful management. Join us to learn about the steps you can take to build a stronger credit profile for your business and understand how this may help you when applying for financing. During this workshop we will deep dive the two critical business cycles that impact every business – the operating cycle and the business lifecycle.
Are you looking to go back to school? Maybe you want to change careers, start a new career, or gain skills that will help you get that promotion. Fresh Start offers several opportunities to do just that. Join us to learn about our fully funded educational programs and how you can start your journey towards a fulfilling career!
We recognize that due to a multitude of barriers, it can be difficult to build and maintain meaningful relationships as an older adult (55+). However, it is still important to prioritize our social lives, as this is a form of self-care and builds our support network of people to lean on in difficult times. In this workshop, we will talk about ways to overcome barriers to friendships, places to engage with new people, and necessary components that make a relationship meaningful.
Come join this powerful workshop based upon the research of Dr. Brene’ Brown. In this space, we will explore topics such as vulnerability, shame, and worthiness. Let’s talk about our relationship with ourselves, how we engage in “holding back” and how to become our most authentic self. We will discuss shame resilience skills, tools that can begin to assist us, empowering us to become our most successful selves. Come join in this opportunity to share with your peers and discover who you were truly are.
This series introduces you to the features and functions of Microsoft Word. Pre-requisite: Microsoft Windows Level 1. We take you from creating a document, through formatting text, and into editing tools such as Cut, Copy and Paste and Find and Replace. We also create bulleted and numbered lists and use the Spelling and Grammar Checkers.
Are you interested in starting your own business but you don’t know where to begin? Join us for an introduction to this unique online business skills training and certification course available for free!
This series introduces you to the word processing application offered as part of Google’s suite of productivity tools. Level 1 required. Build on the skills you learned in the previous class along with advanced features.
This series introduces you to the features and functions of Microsoft Word.
Level 1 required. You’ll learn to insert dates that automatically update when a document is opened, apply borders to paragraphs and pages, and apply before and after spacing to your paragraphs. We also share how to set tabs and paragraph indents as well as create tables. Lastly, we create headers and footers to create a polished document.
Assertive communication is the ability to speak and act in ways that naturally cause people to respond attentively and positively. Join this webinar and learn how to assert yourself in your professional and personal life. This is a Foundation Series course.
Interested in starting your own business? Join this webinar information session to find out how you can earn a certificate of completion (CCL) in Small Business Start-Up from Paradise Valley Community College. You will learn details about the overall program, pre-requisites, and how to apply.
BFF Workshop Series – Climbing the Ladder of “Friendtimacy”
Seeking deeper friendships? This workshop discusses the different stages of friendship and how to maintain them, from acquaintances to best friends. This topic will focus on friendship expert Shasta Nelson’s Triangle of Frientimacy and the necessary components of healthy, reciprocal relationships. You will also learn the roles that meaningful relationships and fling friendships play in our lives, the importance of both, and how to discern the difference between them.
Preparing & Presenting Your Family Court Case with Community Legal Services
A Community Legal Services (CLS) attorney will teach you how to prepare and present your case in court and provide information, resources, and helpful tips about Arizona Family Court processes—from filing your Petition or Response through successfully representing yourself in trial. The CLS attorney will address questions from webinar participants at the end of the presentation. This is a non-confidential classroom setting, and the instructor cannot provide legal advice.
Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Specialist Program Information Session
Are you interested gaining skills for an entry level career in digital marketing or e-commerce? Fresh Start is offering Digital Marketing & E-Commerce certificate in a cohort of other Fresh Start women. By completing this program, you’ll gain the skills necessary to develop marketing and e-commerce strategies, learn how to attract and engage customers, and more!
Join our information session to learn more about this opportunity and see if it is the right fit for you.
Stress effects all aspects of our lives, including parenting. Explore healthy strategies to manage stress and create a plan to enhance your current parenting practices.
This series introduces you to the spreadsheet application offered as part of Google’s suite of productivity tools. Pre-requisite: Microsoft Windows Level 1. Get started learning the basics!
Experience gentle stretching with coordinated breathing, and breathing with coordinated meditation. Learn to create a stronger mind/body connection, reduce stress, increase focus, and re-balance! A focus and practice on movements such as brain wave vibration and Ki-Gong.
Can you do the difficult thing now, in exchange for a reward that is down the road? Maybe you don’t have to. Learn about the positive mental and physical health benefits of celebrating your accomplishments, how it impacts your brain to help with personal motivation and explore different types of rewards for when you’re just not sure what celebration looks like for you.
This series introduces you to the spreadsheet application offered as part of Google’s suite of productivity tools. Level 1 required. Build on the skills you learned in the previous class along with advanced features.
A month-long program focused on building a cohort of women seeking to become leaders in their lives. We focus on finding purpose, identifying strengths, boundaries, holistic well-being, networking, and much more. You are registering for the kickoff Saturday that will take place in person at Fresh Start. Weekly virtual webinars will take place the following 4 Wednesdays and a close-out session will be held in person at Fresh Start on the following Saturday.
This is a chance to share a cup of coffee with a group of women while discussing how consent shows up in different aspects of your life and how to navigate it.
A month-long program focused on building a cohort of women seeking to become leaders in their lives. We focus on finding purpose, identifying strengths, boundaries, holistic well-being, networking, and much more. You are registering for the kickoff Saturday that will take place in person at Fresh Start. Weekly virtual webinars will take place the following 4 Wednesdays and a close-out session will be held in person at Fresh Start on the following Saturday.
Meet one-on-one with a certified Health Coach for a 30-minute session to discuss your health and wellness goals and gain resources, education, and support specific to your health-related behavior change needs.
Al-Anon es un grupo compuesto de parientes y amigos de personas que sufren de alcoholismo, en el cual comparten sus experiencias, fortaleza y esperanza. Nos reunimos para aprender una mejor forma de vida y encontrar la felicidad ya sea que el alcohólico siga bebiendo o no. Tome un momento para preguntarse: “Se preocupa cuanto bebe otra persona?”
A month-long program focused on building a cohort of women seeking to become leaders in their lives. We focus on finding purpose, identifying strengths, boundaries, holistic well-being, networking, and much more. You are registering for the kickoff Saturday that will take place in person at Fresh Start. Weekly virtual webinars will take place the following 4 Wednesdays and a close-out session will be held in person at Fresh Start on the following Saturday.
Join this safe, confidential, & casual group to share your experiences, learn from others, & receive emotional support as you work through the effects of domestic violence. This group teaches the effects of abuse on the victim & her children, how to create trusting, caring relationships, & how to cultivate personal growth.
Co-dependent Anonymous (CoDA) is a support group focused on developing healthy and loving relationships. CoDA gathers biweekly to support and share lessons learned on the journey to self-discovery and learning to love one’s self—all while becoming increasingly honest with about our personal histories and own codependent behaviors.
Se parte de este grupo de apoyo que es seguro, confidencial y casual, donde podras compartir tus experiencias, aprender de otras mujeres y recivir apoyo emocional, por el cual podras trabajar en los efectos de la violencia domestica. Este grupo enseña los efectos del abuso en la víctima y sus hijos, incluyendo cómo crear relaciones de confianza y cariño, y cómo cultivar el crecimiento personal. JFCS requiere el uso de máscaras durante el grupo. Fresh Start tendrá máscaras en el lugar si es necesario.
This entry-level workshop introduces you to the Windows Operating System. You’ll learn about the different components of the desktop, how to open, resize, move and close individual windows. You’ll also be introduced to the File Explorer where we create folders, move and copy folders to a thumb drive, and delete, restore, and then permanently delete files and folders
This series introduces you to the features and functions of Microsoft Excel. Pre-requisite: Microsoft Windows Level 1. From creating a workbook and entering data to formatting your spreadsheet and using formulas and AutoSum, you will see how this powerful tool can help you both professionally and personally of productivity tools.
Level 1 required. Build on the skills you learned in the previous class along with advanced features. You’ll learn about the Average, Min and Max Functions, as well as building and formatting charts. We also go over page formatting features including headers/footers, page breaks and print titles.
This series introduces you to the features and functions of Microsoft PowerPoint. Pre-requisite: Microsoft Windows Level 1. We begin by creating a presentation and assigning a design theme. We follow that up with manually formatting the text, inserting new slides and manipulating text and slides using Cut, Copy and Paste. We then cover Find & Replace and the Spell Check feature before running our Slideshow.
This series introduces you to the features and functions of Microsoft PowerPoint. Level 1 required. Build on the skills you learned in the previous class along with advanced features. In this class we’ll work in different views, insert and format pictures and shapes and learn to animate and automate our slideshows.
¿Confundida por las finanzas? Insegura en cómo mejorar su futuro financiero o por dónde empezar? Nuestra especialista en finanzas puede ayudarle a eliminar el misterio y los mitos de las finanzas. Ella le guiará a través del proceso de identificar sus objetivos financieros y con la creación de un plan de acción para alcanzarlos.
In this course, you’ll learn how to put your best foot forward in a job interview. We’ll cover some common interview questions and talk about dressing for the job you want, body language, and tone of voice. We’ll also go over the importance of listening and the power of appreciation.
Let our Career Service professionals walk with you on your career exploration journey. From behavioral and aptitude assessments to labor market research, we can help you identify career options that match your natural skills, interests, and personality. We can also assist you in your job search or in applying for WIOA funding to upskill or reskill to a new career.
This series introduces you to the features and functions of Microsoft Word.
Level 1 required. You’ll learn to insert dates that automatically update when a document is opened, apply borders to paragraphs and pages, and apply before and after spacing to your paragraphs. We also share how to set tabs and paragraph indents as well as create tables. Lastly, we create headers and footers to create a polished document.
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Meet the Staff
Adriana Arroyo
Director of Education Services
Leslie Ramirez
Certified Legal Document Preparer
Kelli Brown
Program Coordinator
Melissa Sarina
Education Advisor
Samantha Weiss
Social Worker
Patti O’Brien
Chief Marketing Officer
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Our Work
Education, career resources, and a support network
Mission & Vision
To provide access and resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive.
Register to Enroll in Our Programs
Start a new chapter of your life. Join the Fresh Start community to gain valuable life skills, career resources, and support from our team. Registration is required to attend workshops, support groups, and special events.
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We Are Fresh Start
We empower women to succeed
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Family Stability
Building a solid foundation of security
Achieving Family Stability shouldn’t be an uphill battle. At Fresh Start, we work with you on an individual case-by-case basis to meet your personal needs.
Whether you need housing, legal assistance, or support to assure your basic needs are met, we are here for you.
Get access to the knowledge and resources necessary to advocate for yourself and your children. Fresh Start offers:
Special topic classes led by licensed attorneys on divorce process, how to prepare for your court date, child support, orders of protection, asset division, spousal maintenance, and more
Document preparation services available at a reduced fee
Meets the urgent needs of women and their children when they first come to Fresh Start, including family stability support, health & well- being services, and community partner referrals.
Holistic support & services
Gives women the tools and resources necessary to develop sustained, long-term behavioral change through goal-setting and ongoing, personalized support with a Fresh Start Social Worker.
Access to Education and Career Opportunities
Strategically targets the most in-demand jobs on the market, ensuring that our education and career placements are effective, sustainable, and growth-oriented.
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Donate
Your Donation will help women in Arizona break the cycle of poverty and achieve self sufficiency.
Partner with us
Interested in becoming an employer, educator or community Partner? Connect with us.
Support Fresh Start Women
Access to education and career opportunities are imperative to help women cultivate sustainable, long-term change.
Donate
Your Donation will help women in Arizona break the cycle of poverty and achieve self sufficiency.
Partner with us
Interested in becoming an employer, educator or community Partner? Connect with us.
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Community Legal Services
Community Legal Services provides support in these areas:
Domestic violence
Family Law: Divorce, child custody, guardianship
Housing: Eviction, foreclosure, Fair Housing Act violations, bad living conditions
Consumer Problems: Debt Collections & bankruptcy
Employment Problems: Wages & Discrimination
Public Benefits: Nutrition Assistance, AHCCCS, SSI, Veterans, Social Security, Cash Assistance
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What your support does
Your support helps us become more efficient and effective in providing services to women who need Fresh Start’s support the most.
What your support does
Your support helps us become more efficient and effective in providing services to women who need Fresh Start’s support the most.
The path to change starts with you. Our volunteers play an integral role in helping us create lasting change in Arizona. Find the volunteer opportunity suited for you by taking a look at our offerings listed below.
Mentorship
Foundation series
Computer literacy
Career coaching
Client services
Special events/opportunities
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The path to change starts with you. Our volunteers play an integral role in helping us create lasting change in Arizona. Find the volunteer opportunity suited for you by taking a look at our offerings listed below.
are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity
are disabled
identify as LGBTQ+
are veterans
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities
Mentorship
Our mentors have empathic listening skills, a non-judgmental approach, and a postivie attitude about the capacity to change. and personal stability. To be a mentor, you must be at least 25 years old, pass a background check, and exhibit success in your personal and professional life.
Fresh Start offers two mentoring programs:
A one-on-one mentoring program where volunteers are paired with a mentee for a full year
A peer mentoring program where volunteers are paired with two to four clients for 6 months
Foundation Series
This series of classes provides foundational skills women can use in all areas of their lives. We need vollunteers to help facilitate these classes. You should have presentation experience and expertise in the course subject matter. Our foundation series classes are:
Assertive Communication
Developing Boundaries
Goal Setting
Stress Relief
Computer literacy
Our Computer Literacy classes cover everything from basic Microsoft Windows functions to advanced Excel spreadsheet tools. We offer these classes nearly every day and always need volunteers to help facilitate them. Volunteers for these classes are required to have presentation experience and expertise in the subject matter.
Career coaches
Career coaches meet one-on-onewith clients for 45-minute sessions. Volunteer coaches triage clients to determine their greatest needs and help them start their journey as a Fresh Start client. Career coaches should have human resources or hiring experience, be at least 25-years-old, and pass a background check.
client services
When you volunteer as part of our client services team, you will oversee the front desk at Fresh Start. You play a very important role on our team—greeting every woman who comes into Fresh Start. To be successful at this role, you should be kind and courteous and be willing to learn about all of Fresh Start’s services so that you can provide assistance.
One Time Gift
From $5 to $50,000, every dollar makes a difference.
Tax Credit
Donate your Arizona Tax Credit to Fresh Start.
Give Monthly
A smaller monthly donation can create a huge year-round impact.
Planned Giving
Pledge your intention to contribute to Fresh Start with a charitable trust.